Migration of a Kirschner wire from the greater trochanter to the popliteal fossa: a case report

Migration of Kirschner (K) wires from the upper extremity joints has often been reported, but it is less common from the lower extremities. In this report, we describe an 85-year-old man treated, during a hip replacement procedure, with a K-wire because of a trochanteric fracture; after one year, the K-wire was found in the popliteal fossa. This report illustrates the first case of K-wire migration in the popliteal area of the knee and suggests avoiding the use of free K-wires without any tension banding.     

Fixation of Kirschner wires: a comparison between hammering and drilling k-wires into ribs of pigs

Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation is a well-accepted method for stabilization of fractures. However, the rotary drill traditionally used for insertion leads to a considerable amount of complications (33%). Another method for insertion was tested which might possibly reduce these complications—hammering. Forty-four K-wires were inserted into the ribs of pigs using a drilling and a hammering technique. Peak extraction force, peak torque, and insertion time were measured. The mean peak extraction forces for drilling and hammering were 57.4 and 129.0 N, respectively. The mean peak torque for drilling and hammering were 2.4 and 5.7e−02 Nm, respectively. Using the drilling technique, it took 73.6 s to insert the K-wire compared with 18.4 s for hammering. At the exit site, there were splinters of bone in 18 of the 22 hammered K-wires and in 2 of the 22 drilled K-wires. This study showed that hammering K-wires into ribs of pigs gives better initial fixation and results in a shorter insertion time.D.B. van Egmond is deceased.     

306. Martin Kirschner zum 100. Geburtstag

Zusammenfassung Kirschner wurde 1879 in Breslau geboren. 1916 erhielt er den Ruf auf den Lehrstuhl in Königsberg, 1927 nach TÜbingen und 1934 nach Heidelberg. An diesen Stätten erbaute er neue Kliniken. Erfolgreich arbeitete er auf allen chirurgischen Teilgebieten. Besonders erwähnenswert seien die erste erfolgreiche pulmonale Embolektomie, die einzeitige Lungenlappenresektion, ein neues Verfahren in der Oesophaguschirurgie, die EinfÜhrung des halbstarren Kirschner-Drahtes, in der Schmerzbekämpfung die Avertinnarkose, die Spinalanaesthesie und die Elektrocoagulation des Ganglion Gasseri. 1932 begrÜndete er die heute von Zenker fortgefÜhrte Operationslehre.     

Rupture of Flexor Tendons After Arthrodesis of the Basal Joint of the Thumb

We report a case of rupture of the flexor tendons to the index finger after arthrodesis of the basal joint of the thumb. The tendons ruptured as a result of the Kirschner wires having penetrated in the carpal tunnel. This unusual complication was treated by tendon graft of the palmaris longus tendon.     

Optimal Number of Fixation Pins for Dedicated Mini Jig Cutting Guides During Navigated Total Knee Arthroplasty

Purpose: The optimal number of fixation pins for minimally invasive cutting guides in computer-navigated arthroplasty has not been determined. The authors hypothesized that more fixation pins will lead to greater mechanical stability and more accurate resections. Materials and Method: 12 bovine knee joints were divided into three groups with differing numbers of fixation pins. The ASM [Stryker] knee navigation system was utilized to perform resections, and accuracy of alignment and posterior slope was measured. Comparison was performed between the groups to calculate average differences between predicted and actual resection with differing number of pins. Results: The difference between actual and predicted values showed a trend toward diminishing with a greater number of fixation pins. The mean difference in coronal alignment of predicted versus actual resection was 0.75° for two fixation pins, 0.5° for three pins and 1° for four fixation pins. Similarly, the difference between posterior slope was 2.75°, 2°, and 1°, respectively. Conclusion: This study reveals a trend toward greater accuracy of resections with more fixation pins. Further investigation may be beneficial.     

空心钉张力带微创治疗髌骨骨折的临床研究

目的探讨空心钉张力带微创治疗髌骨骨折的临床效果及安全性。方法将60例髌骨骨折患者随机分为两组,各30例。观察组采用空心钉张力带微创治疗,对照组采用克氏针张力带治疗,对比两组治疗效果及并发症发生情况。结果两组患者手术时间和骨折愈合时间比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),观察组术中出血量少于对照组(P<0.01);观察组优良率为93.3%,高于对照组的70.0%(P<0.05);两组并发症发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论空心钉张力带微创治疗髌骨骨折效果显著,其固定牢固、并发症少、安全有效,值得临床推广应用。     

关节镜下克氏针联合界面螺钉固定治疗Schatzker Ⅲ型胫骨平台骨折的疗效分析

目的 研究关节镜辅助下经皮克氏针联合界面螺钉固定治疗Schatzker Ⅲ型胫骨平台骨折的可行性和疗效分析。方法 自2008年5月至2018年1月,中国人民解放军联勤保障部队第910医院骨科采用克氏针联合界面螺钉固定治疗Schatzker Ⅲ型胫骨平台骨折20例。所有病例均采用关节镜辅助,结合骨折微创复位技术进行复位,采用多根克氏针联合界面螺钉固定并结合异体骨植骨。手术后采用HSS评分标准对膝关节功能进行评估。结果 本组20例患者均获随访,术后随访2 ～ 10年,平均（6.7±2.2）年。术后患者切口均Ⅰ期愈合,骨折均达骨性愈合,愈合时间为2.5 ～ 6个月,平均3.1个月,膝关节活动度为0° ～ 130°。末次随访时膝关节功能HSS评分： 优18例,良1例,可1例,优良率95.0%。所有患者均未出现下肢深静脉血栓、切口感染、膝关节僵硬。结论 关节镜辅助下经皮克氏针联合界面螺钉固定治疗Schatzker Ⅲ型骨折具有直视下精确复位、损伤小、愈合快,可一期处理关节腔内其他损伤,有利于功能快速康复,并发症少等优点。     

Long-term clinical outcomes of arthroscopic discopexy with resorbable pins

IntroductionDiscopexy using resorbable pins is an arthroscopic technique to treat internal derangement of the TMJ, restoring the normal relationship between disc, condyle, and temporal bone. The objective of our study was to assess the 5-year clinical outcome of a series of patients treated with this technique.MethodsA study was conducted on a series of patients who underwent arthroscopic discopexy using resorbable pins between January 2007 and February 2018. All the patients were refractory to conservative treatment and classified as Wilkes stage III. Clinical data were recorded at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year visits. Pre- and postoperative evaluation parameters were: joint pain (VAS scale), mandibular movements (mm), and articular locking and clicking.ResultsThe study included 33 patients and the technique was performed in 38 joints. Mouth opening increased significantly with each visit after surgery compared with preoperative scores (mean value of 10.65 mm, p < 0.001), with the mean value increasing significantly at the 5-year visit in relation to the mean value obtained at the 3-year visit. Patients reported significant decreases in pain after surgery, obtaining VAS values of under 10 at the 5-year visit (mean improvement of 56.95 points, p < 0.001).ConclusionsDiscopexy using resorbable pins resulted in a good and stable clinical outcome at the long-term follow-up.     

An Anatomical Study to Demonstrate the Proximity of Kirschner Wires to Structures at Risk in Percutaneous Pinning of Distal Radius Fractures

Distal radius fractures are often treated using percutaneous Kirschner wires (K-wires). The sensory nerves in this area, extensor tendons, radial artery and cephalic vein are at risk of injury in this procedure. We undertook a cadaveric investigation to identify probability of damage to these ‘at risk’ structures by measuring their distances in relation to standard K-wire sites. Nine upper limbs from six formalin-preserved cadavers were studied. Four K-wires were placed percutaneously simulating fixation of a distal radius fracture. Careful dissection was done preserving the original position of neurovascular and tendinous structures. Distances to relevant soft-tissue structures from each K-wire were measured using an electronic digital caliper. Distance of superficial nerves from radial styloid and Lister’s tubercle was measured to determine their ‘safe distance’ from these fixed landmarks. None of the superficial nerves were injured by a K-wire. Cephalic vein had been pierced on 4 occasions (4/18) and extensor tendons on 3 occasions (3/18). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare distance of the superficial nerves from radial styloid and Lister tubercle, and the latter was found to be the safer option. This study highlights the inherent danger in percutaneous K-wire fixation of wrist fractures. Limited size of the area, where K-wires can be positioned, and anatomic variations of neurovascular structures pose obstacles in developing guidelines for reducing risk of injury. We advocate use of mini-open approach and guiding devices to avert complications of inadvertent impalement and damage to these structures.